The Emperor’s Angel of Death

When the Aeldari Knights riding enormous bipedal lizards charged into the frenzied enemy ranks, the tips of their lances emitted a brilliant light, instantly tearing apart any foe they touched as easily as a knife piercing window paper. Forming an assault formation, they 'plowed' through the enemy ranks, leaving a trail of blood and gore in their wake, while their mounts tore apart any surviving enemies with their teeth and claws.

Swift, fierce, and unstoppable—

These are the Dragon Knights, the mainstay combat force of the savage Aeldari Clan Kingdoms, and significant participants in the savage Aeldari society's concept of honor.

They ride medium-sized carnivorous dragons, commonly found on various maiden worlds. Perhaps the ancestors of the savage Aeldari discovered and spread them throughout the galaxy in some star system. These carnivorous dragons hold a similar status to dogs in human society (although the Imperium seems to lack them?), serving not only as weapons of war but also as herders of herbivorous dragon flocks during peacetime.

Dragon Knights are the warriors of savage Aeldari society. Organized by clan, they highly value honor, family traditions, and bloodlines, much like human knights. Therefore, duels between Dragon Knights are common, often stemming from honor or resolving disputes. These battles and the resulting deaths do not breed resentment between clans, as Dragon Knights believe that dying for honor is not a disgrace.

In battle, these warriors become a crucial force in protecting their society, as these native beasts are virtually their only mobile force, lacking the diverse war engines of their Craftworld kin.

In the past, more than 200 Dragon Knights were stationed on the Isle of Prayers, but less than 50 were present during this enemy attack, and half had already been lost in previous battles.

Correspondingly, they had killed thousands of enemies, but it was far from enough. The enemy's numbers seemed endless, and the remaining Dragon Knights could only buy more time for their brethren with their lives.

But facing such frenzied opponents, everyone felt despair.

Because even the most agile Aeldari could meet with misfortune in such a mad surge—

A Dragon Knight wielding a lance, after charging through the enemy ranks several times, was overwhelmed by fanatical cultists when his mount fell. They tore apart his limbs, wearing them as badges, while the lucky one who grabbed the soulstone ran towards the rear of the battlefield.

There stood a desecrated shrine, a massive shrine adorned with blades, mounted on a tracked platform, driven by the fervor of its occupants. Nearly naked men and women, their pale flesh exposed, crowded together, surrounding a giant censer. A towering statue, shaped after one of the Dark Lady's forms, loomed over everyone.

A lithe figure stood beneath the Slaaneshi statue, her pale skin shimmering in the blood-red light. She wore a night-colored robe and held a staff woven from tendons and blood vessels.

As she gazed upon the battlefield, a thick mane of white hair fluttered around her alluring yet wicked face.

Whenever a cultist knelt at her feet, raising a soulstone, she would smile, then lean down to pick up the soulstone while bestowing a kiss representing the Dark Prince's favor.

Afterward, that cultist would throw himself into battle with even greater fervor, while the priestess would toss the soulstone into the censer, generating more maddening fumes.

No one would ever suspect that she was the concubine, and also the daughter, of Expeditionary Force Commander Governor Klawde Cheril.

"Praise the Lord of Pleasure!"

Amid the cheers, more cultists with mutated bodies joined the battle, clad in armor and clothing made of scraps, hooks and spikes piercing their skin and flesh, their eyes filled with madness and hunger. At the same time, light vehicles like armored cars began to encircle the battlefield from two other directions, firing indiscriminately with assault cannons and battle cannons.

The Aeldari Guardians' casualties began to rise sharply, but the cultists' ultimate mission was to completely seize this webway gate and destroy it, preventing any uninvited guests from disturbing the grand ascension ritual—

However, the Slaaneshi priestess suddenly frowned. She saw something rushing towards her, like a gust of azure wind.

In the shimmering energy, she could see a figure with fluttering robes and long, flowing hair, not wearing a helmet, a beautiful face with a serene and cold expression, a symbol etched on her forehead, and a silver, shimmering longsword that seemed alive in her hand.

Luvia Grita, Spiritseer of the Isle of Prayers, also Princess Cordelia's teacher, the gatekeeper of the webway.

As cultists surged towards her as if instinctively, she ended the life of one who had already grown crab claws with the tip of her sword, spun around, and drew her sword, the blade cutting into another enemy's neck.

Luvia Grita maintained her state of mind. It was compassion, not sin. She felt neither anger nor joy. In her long life, she understood the futility of such actions, how such self-indulgence in battle and revenge could easily lead to her fall into the abyss.

She fought to protect, not to kill, but the enemies became more reckless and clumsy because of their anger, constantly hissing, spitting, and slashing, only wasting precious time and energy.

In just a breath, her witch blade had decapitated two more cultists, blood dripping down the blade.

Even surrounded by enemies, she felt no fear, no hesitation, only the calm and disciplined movements.

In this state, Luvia Grita's perception was elevated to a transcendent level. She foresaw the subconscious movements that revealed the enemy's intentions before they even occurred. She reacted before her opponents even knew how to respond.

With a gentle wave of her hand, a psychic shockwave instantly shattered the ribs of several unfortunate souls who were preparing to shoot her with guns.

Invisible blades danced around her, and the bullets fired by the enemies, though close at hand, never managed to harm her.

But she had not come for these worthless enemies—

She was here to make a desperate gamble.

"Beautiful sacrifice, when your disguise is stripped away, you will taste true pleasure. You are all the finest delicacies on our lord's plate."

The priestess revealed a delighted smile, flicking a black serpentine tongue.

Behind her, things began to stir behind the cloud of dust. Accompanied by hissing laughter, swift shadows stepped forward, figures flowing out of the dark voids like melting wax running down a burning candle, and solidified.

Dozens of Slaaneshi Daemonettes appeared, laughing wildly. The priestess also leaped high, descending gracefully from the sky, joining the melee.

Luvia Grita withstood the mental pressure from all directions, drawing limited power from the pervading desecration, projecting web-like lightning that turned several Daemonettes to ashes amidst screams.

Then her witch blade slashed, beheading one Daemonette, and rapidly retreating as another's crab claw stabbed towards her.

However, she did not neglect her true target. After feigning a retreat for a second, she transformed into an afterimage, appearing behind the priestess with incredible speed.

But before her sword could strike, the other's head twisted 180 degrees, her face bearing a grotesque smile.